The decline of hip fracture incidence rates over a 10-year period: A single centre experience

Abstract

Aims: Accurate epidemiological hip fracture data is essential for healthcare planning and targeted prevention strategies. Limited reports of hip fracture incidence rates in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) exist. The aim is to calculate the current age- and gender-specific incidence of hip fractures in a level 1 Trauma Centre in the ROI, and the difference in these rates over a 10 year period.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective, population-based, observational study. The local Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) database was used to generate data for analysis; capturing all patients admitted for hip fracture in three time periods over 10 years. Patients < 55 years old, pathological fractures, and periprosthetic fractures were excluded. Age- and gender-specific incidence rate was calculated using HIPE and national census data.

Results: Absolute number of hip fractures rose by 8.5% between 2008/09 (n = 800) and 2018/19 (n = 868) time periods. Cervical hip fractures dominated in all 3 time periods. The average age of patients remained at 80 years but length of stay for patients was reduced by 16% 5 years later and by 21% 10 years later from the initial study point. Both the entire and susceptible (> 55 years) population numbers increased by 13% and 30%, respectively, yet overall hip fracture incidence rate declined 10 years on. Hip fracture incidence rate in the entire population fell by 3.23 per 100,000 population, and by 65.11 per 100,000 population in the susceptible population. The majority of both male and female age groups exhibited declining annual incidence rates over the 10 year study period.

Conclusion: Results are consistent with the global experience of declining overall incidence rate of hip fractures, despite rising susceptible population numbers. This report adds to the sparse hip fracture incidence data available in the ROI which can be applied in future healthcare planning strategies.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Gender differences; Hip fracture; Incidence rate; Orthopaedics; Trauma.